Warm Vera Patterns

I can spot a Vera scarf almost anywhere - a crowd of people or an overflowing bin of scarves. I was thinking of framing a scarf (I would have to buy a custom frame) and hanging in my kitchen or craft room. They are more like a piece of art; an art piece to wear, tie around your purse, hang as a painting, or make as a pillow case.

Here are a few beautiful close ups of Vera scarves I sell on my Etsy shop, some I haven't put up for sale yet, and some I am contemplating keeping :) Use these patterns as inspirations for your next creative endeavor. I love all the warm spring colors and pops of flowers and fruits.

New to my Shop: Jewelry

I started collecting a fair amount of jewelry for my Etsy store. I am very impressed by the quality of "costume" jewelry from the 1940s, 50s and 60s. Most jewelry I have found has stood the test of time and the test of daily use! Costume jewelry from this time period seems to be made more like the more expensive jewelry of today - sturdy, well made, quality pieces.

For my wedding ceremony jewelry, I used my Grandma's wedding jewelry (She wasn't wearing the jewelry in the photos, but I'm sure she wore it for the celebration!). Some of the rhinestones were darker or discolored, so my mom took the earrings and necklace to a jeweler, who said it was the foil behind the rhinestones and it would cost xxx.xx dollars to fix... I don't mind the slight discoloration, and I think it adds to the charm. The jewelry is in the original box my Grandma bought the jewelry in - another reason why vintage costume jewelry is far beyond the costume jewelry of today (I guess it's not called costume jewelry anymore, but affordable jewelry? Non-precious jewelry? Honestly, I don't know!).



Here are two AMAZING finds of vintage costume jewelry I just posted to my Etsy store (I will definitely be posting more in the future!):

A pair of earrings that remind me of a peacock - long steel blue rhinestone "feathers" with turquoise and aurora borealis stones.

A pair of earrings that look like they just came off of a brides ears! They are so classy, clean and definitely stood up to the timelessness of the style.

Givenchy!

It's always nice to find several pieces from the same designer- you can see over time how each piece relates to one another and how these items will forever be timeless!

Over the past year and a half, I have found three different Givenchy pieces (which is always exciting!).

First, I found a Menswear silk scarf which is super unique, with caged red raging bulls:

Find on my Etsy store here

Second, I came across Givenchy earrings form the 1980s (and they are pierced!):

Find on my Etsy store here

And just recently, I found this 80's Navy Leather Clutch:

Find on my Etsy store here

Can't you see an outfit using all these pieces together? It's sometimes hard selling so many pretty pieces when I'd love to keep them for myself! But I know there is someone out there looking for the perfect designer piece to spice up their wardrobe :)

Finally time for scarf weather!

Five days ago, scarf weather began. The windows to my house have been opened and I can wear a blazer to work, sit in the sun at lunch, wear a scarf, and never be too warm. Hello, autumn! On Monday, I finally was able to wear a scarf my mother-in-law to be bought me on her trip to Paris in June (she gave it to me on a day it was 102 degrees and humid). She bought it from a small boutique called "Aspasie et Mathieu"  I just started recognizing the color pink as a color I could wear, and I'm happy I did (I'm currently wearing a pink plaid shirt and brought a pink tote to work... maybe too much pink?)

This is the scarf with the label from the store... I can't see an address and not look it up on Google Street View! Here's the store from a Google image taken in June 2008. I imagine I am that woman who is looking in the window, admiring the beautiful Parisian fashion. 

I just posted this AMAZING vintage YSL scarf in my etsy store - I'm constantly amazed by vintage silk and how it never ages - You definitely pay for what you get with designer silk scarves. Not to mention, the style hardly ever goes out of fashion. Look at those amazing bright colors!

I saw this in the Fashion 2013 issue of Harper's Bazaar, and suddenly I felt a bit more on trend :) Except this scarf is a bit more affordable... Chanel for $430, Louis Vuitton for $450 and Celine for $570! Eeeek!

"the foulard is taking top billing this fall, adding a quick pop of color to any ensemble"

I've had some fellow friends and colleagues look down upon my scarf wearing (to which I always think, "who cares?!"), like I'm a grandma... But I don't see your grandma rocking Yves Saint Laurent!

New Dress Form (Or Mannequin...)

I finally found one! I got a dress form for my craft room, to help with photographing my Etsy items!

Okay, so it's not really a dress form... maybe for Barbie, not me. It was used as a clothing display mannequin at J.Crew in Center City Philadelphia. A friend of a friend works for a cleaning company and J.Crew was throwing out ALL of their mannequins. The base on this puppy is awesome, super heavy duty black metal with an (un-functional) cool pedal, and the body moves easily up and down the base. Plus, it's on wheels!! Already Happy about the wheels, I can photograph the front, roll quickly and photograph the back in a snap.

Really, throwing all of these out? Thankfully, the friend of a friend decided to keep all 40 of these and resell them.

I got a great deal, and I already re-photographed some of my Etsy items :) Like this 80's sweater vest that looks SO much better on a body rather than a hanger... Darn oversized 80s...

I've always wanted to set out my next day outfit on a mannequin, and I think I'll start doing that!

Summer Colors

I found this over the weekend and it made me so happy! Such a 1960's serving tray... I imagine my fiance serving me waffles and espresso in our bright sunny beach house bedroom as I listen to the morning ocean waves. Wait, I don't have a beach house nor has my fiance ever served me breakfast in bed. Maybe you should buy this tray if you have a beach house, fiance who wakes up before you, or would like to attain either or both of these things :)

Find the Florida Tray on my Etsy store here!!

In the making of my Etsy store

Like I said in my last post, I finally have a spot to permanently set up and photograph my Etsy items. Before, I'd have to set up the living room for when I set aside time to photograph items, but now I have I spot where I can keep everything organized and I don't have to set specific times to photograph!

Etsy photo area to the left, craft area to the right

And, I'm just too excited about my craft area and guest bedroom... It's really a beautiful room and fun place to spend my late afternoons.

Craft area and guest bedroom! Lots of green, aqua and mint.

New scarves... Summer Colors!

I'm so happy to post these vintage scarves I recently listed for sale in my Etsy shop  I have so much more to list, but I thought it was necessary to get the bright summer colors for sale first - I wish I could keep them all :)

This scarf by Burmel is amazing: super soft silk, and an amazing pattern in lemon and lime colors. Talk about neon colors for the summer! I can see a chic New York girl tying this around her head with a bow, but I could also see someone wearing this an an accessory to the Miami beaches. Oh, summertime!

This is a fantastic vintage silk scarf by Adrienne Vittadini. It has bright, bold summer colors: hot pink, newon orange, bright yellow, and a muted purple (to even out the bright colors!). It's also very soft and airy, working well as a small beach skirt since it's large enough (34" x 34"!).

Lastly, it's not summer without nautical prints. This vintage scarf by Leonardi features colors of cerulean blue (my favorite crayon color!) with teal and navy nautical knots. Now don't ask me how to tie a nautical knot, but everyone knows how to tie a fashionable scarf around their neck in summertime!

Fun with new Etsy store tags...

I like to insert a little note with the orders I recieve. I decided to recycle some paper I've had sitting around. These color swatches came with wedding invite samples I ordered. :)

more silk scarves!

I just spent hours photographing and updating my etsy store with a bunch of silk scarves I just acquired. Wow, it will be hard to let go of these scarves... they are all so beautiful and in such grat condition!

Here are a few...
Givenchy Silk Scarf in Bull Pattern



















Vera Vintage Silk Polka Dot Scarf



















Echo Vintage Silk Pink and Grey Scarf

Seriously, where is the warm weather?

I guess I can't complain too much about the weather - there has been less than a half of an inch for the city. Which is great for still getting around the city with a car, parking in a space that hasn't been occupied by someone's lawn chair (if you move the chair, your car will be keyed), and wearing nice shoes without getting them salty.

I've recently posted these two scarves for sale on my Etsy store. As I was taking photos and writing their description for my shop, I was imagining myself on a beach with the warm sun shining. Then, I immediately told Steve I want to go on vacation by the end of February and it must be a beach with a warm 80 degree sun, or it would be worthless. I spent about an hour and a half looking up flights and vacation deals, only to realize I don't have that kind of money, especially with our wedding in October of this year.

So until I get that beach, I will live vicariously though the lives of these scarves, which I picture as a sarong for beach goers, or accessory on a floppy beach hat. Sigh.

Vintage Oscar de la Renta silk scarf (it's huge - approx 33"x35"). Great to wear around your waist or shoulders walking to and from the beach. The design is so gorgeous, looks like watercolors printed on silk.

Vintage tropical chiffon scarf, no label. This scarf is so light and airy, would be great to shield your hair from the sun while still keeping your head cool. Oh the pattern is lovely - Black and lime green with coral red tropical flowers. Can you feel the sun now?

I found this yesterday...

I don't know why I like this so much. It's a laser maple wood cut address book. Independence Hall is carved on the front. I want someone to make paper to fit inside for their own journal. Perhaps you want to do this?

It's selling on my etsy page here